| Session Details | |
| Section | PS - Planetary Sciences |
| Session Title | Science and Exploration of Mars and Venus |
| Main Convener | Dr. Varun Sheel (Physical Research Laboratory, India) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Takeshi Imamura (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science/Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Japan) Dr. Wing-Huen Ip (National Central University, Taiwan) Dr. Martin Pätzold (Rhenish Institute for Environmental Research, Germany) Prof. Cheng-Li Huang (Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) Dr. Graziella Caprarelli (School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia) |
| Session Description | This session will address the latest results on the ionosphere, atmosphere, surface and interior of Mars and Venus from recent and ongoing missions to the two planets, such as Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Express, Venus Express, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MERs, Phoenix and the most recent Mars Science Laboratory mission (especially the Curiosity Rover). The session will also cover future missions for the exploration of Mars and Venus, for example the MAVEN mission and the Indian Mars mission to be launched in 2013. In particular, the session is primarily targeted at: (1) presentations on measurements as well as theoretical models concerning the ionospheric environment and its interaction with the solar wind; the atmospheric composition, dynamics and climate; the surface morphology, geology, geochemistry and mineralogy; the deep interior and subsurface structure of Mars and Venus (2) discussions on scientific goals, long-term plans and proposed experiments for future missions to Mars and Venus, as well as results obtained from ground-based measurements. Both broad solicited talks and contributed presentations will be included in the program. Also, studies on comparative planetology of terrestrial planets are particularly encouraged to be submitted to this session. |